FILMOGRAPHY: 2010
My 2010 movie odyssey is complete. I’ve seen exactly 100 of last year’s films, and somehow managed to post something on almost all of them. A monumental accomplishment if I may say so myself, something I’m proud of but frankly a little embarrassed for having had the time to do. Overall, I’d say it was […]
2011 Summer Movie Preview
It feels like it could be a week summer, but there’s still plenty to get excited about. Here’s a list of my top 10 most-anticipated blockbusters, followed by the 10 most intriguing independent pictures. 10.) X-Men: First Class Pros: Director Matthew Vaughn, interesting period elements Cons: X-Men fatigue 9.) Kung Fu Panda 2 Pros: Solid […]
TOP 10: Best Movie Remakes
The good news of the week: Arthur actually wasn’t that bad. The bad news: It unsurprisingly comes nowhere near this list of my 10 favorite film remakes ever. But hell, I can live with that. I’m just glad my $10 didn’t go to waste. But anyway, enjoy the list, and let me know what some […]
TOP 10: Non-Pixar Animated Films of the Decade
I finally caught up with Rango this weekend and thought it was swell—a really funny, engaging family movie and a successful throwback to the westerns of old. I started thinking where it would rank on my list of favorite animated films in recent memory and realized that list has been totally monopolized by Pixar. So […]
Ranking the 2011 Oscar Nominees
I’m totally stealing this idea from In Contention, but I thought it would be fun to look at the Oscar field as a whole this year. I’ve seen 29 of the nominated features. I’m missing: Another Year, The Wolfman, Barney’s Version, The Way Back, The Tempest, In a Better World, Incendies, Outside the Law, Dogtooth, […]
TOP 10: Worst Oscar-Nominated Performances of the 2000s
This week, I was inspired by just how strong the acting categories are at the Oscars across the board. Are the five nominated actors and actresses in each category my very favorites? No, not quite, but there really aren’t any performances that I find undeserving. Below are ten nominated performances (from the last decade) that […]
Ranking the Coen Brothers’ Movies
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my two months dissecting the entire Coen Brothers filmography, it’s that even when you know to expect the unexpected, you can never quite prepare yourself for what these two minds will throw at you. From the daring unfussiness of Blood Simple, to the epic absurdity of The Big […]
TOP 10: Oscar Acting Snubs of the 2000s
I wrote my overly enthusiastic write-up on the Oscar nominations a few days ago, but the reality is that quite a few of my favorite performances were left out. No Aaron Eckhart. No Leonardo DiCaprio (for either Shutter Island or Inception). No Marion Cotillard. No Robert Duvall. And no Julianne Moore. But if I’m being […]
Top 10 Films of the 1990s
There are plenty of highly regarded films from this decade that I haven’t seen, mainly because I was too young at the time. And looking at the finished list, there are certainly some notable omissions. I find Pulp Fiction to be one of Tarantino’s least successful efforts—too meandering in the middle portion. As much as […]
The Worst Best Picture Nominees of the 2000s
With the Oscar nominations only a little over a week away, I thought it would be fun to take a look at the last ten years and see not where the Academy has done a good job, but where they have fucked up the worst. Everyone understandably has their share of problems with the Academy, […]
The Ten Best Films of 2010
10.) The Kids Are All Right Lisa Cholodenko’s dramedy resonates so strongly because she manages to make this “non-traditional†family incredibly relatable. I found myself taken aback with just how insightful it is, how clever the writing is, and how strong the performances are. 9.) Biutiful Only a fool would expect an Iñárritu film to […]
The Ten Best Films of 2009
This was a very good year in film, and my first (partial) year as a blogger. Below are the ten films that have best stood the test of time. 10.) In the Loop Profanity has never been better used than in this frightening satire of government ineptitude. The film is very British and very, very […]
The Ten Best Films of 2007
10.) Ratatouille After its lackluster 2006 effort, Cars (which inexplicably earned a sequel, coming in 2011), Pixar bounced back in a big way with its love letter to the beauty of France and French cooking. It’s perhaps the great animation studio’s best written film (along with Toy Story 3), and the animation, it goes without […]
The Ten Best Films of 2006
10.) Notes on a Scandal Outstanding acting and a tight story elevate this film above a few cringe-worthy moments related to its conclusion. Cate Blanchett was robbed of a Best Supporting Actress Oscar. 9.) The Prestige Christopher Nolan can do anything, including early-20th century magic thrillers, apparently. The Prestige is a film that’s all story, […]
The Ten Best Films of 2005
10.) Syriana It’s easy to get lost in this film’s labyrinthine plot, but thanks to a number of great performances (especially by Jeffery Wright and George Clooney, who won an Oscar for his work) and some exceptionally strong writing, this film beats out the likes of Crash, King Kong, and Capote for the tenth slot […]
Ranking the 2000s Best Picture Winners
10.) A Beautiful Mind (2001) It’s just another biopic in my opinion. The film is emotionally involving but not in the least bit challenging or unique. Crowe and Connelly give strong performances, but Best Picture? Really? 9.) Gladiator (2000) This is a great example of summer entertainment. It’s a lot of fun, and the battle […]
